Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2013 12:26:12 GMT -5
But it hadn't stopped Jacey. Many would have been phased by the colt's quick-witted response to the normal stimuli but Jacey had not been. She knew he was capable of good things. She had taken her time with the colt but it was Erin who had gained that bond with him. He showed her kindness and understanding. In the end, it had paid off well and the confidence Jacey felt in the colts's potential was strong. Erin however, never lacked faith in her rides and it was perhaps that which encouraged them to perform well. But whether that was the reason or not did not matter, for the year would soon be starting again and that meant a workout was in order.
The visibly huge black colt was stood calmly in his stall, staring out at the world with a blank expression. He greeted the jockey, and nuzzled her to give real recognition that she was there. It was typical of Rave, who was obviously a very cooperative colt. Luckily for Erin, however, the one thing that did seem to enthuse the Rave was the track and that was exactly where they would be headed. After all, where else did you work a racehorse? Soon Rave would be making his way down the turf as if he had never even left it. But such was Rave's way and the quirkiness of the black colt often served to make her jockey smile.
The entrants for the race all seemed very strong and competitive. They all were anyway when it came to the Unicorn Horn Series. Pandora would start in Gate One. She could run almost anywhere in the field. Gate Two held Lissome. She had raced twice placing on both occasions. This would be her third run in four weeks, could she handle it? He raced as a stalker. Spotlight Pride started in Gate Three. He raced as a front runner so would challenge the lead. Insanity Plea was in Gate Four. The colt finished fourth in his first start. He raced as a closer. Rave would start in Gate Five. He was a closer so would race with Insanity Plea. Dragonheart was in Gate Six. He was a preceder and one hell of a good looker. With the entrants, it was hard to tell who would win.
After tacking up, she lead the colt out of the barn and Jacey gave her a leg up. Taking the reins, Erin stroked the colt's neck softly and squeezed slightly to get him to move forward. The colt walked forward with a bounce in his step and he snorted, chomping on his bit. He was quick-witted and temperamental. But again it was the colt's quirks. He wasn't purposefully being difficult. Until they got onto the track he would continue to be just as himself. The colt shook his head and chomped his bit again. Jacey walked beside them and she let them go through the opening onto the turf track. The colt was looking fantastic for a two year old, and she hoped that it would reflect on the season he would have.
As they reached the track the colt seemed to become even more alert, his head lifting and eyes gleaming. He pawed at the ground, nuzzled at Jacey impatiently. Erin laughed. He wanted to go, and he wanted to go now. After a few stretches of trot, the colt cantered beautifully round to the four furlong pole, where they would be working from today. The colt was more than ready for it, and so was Erin. She knew that he had the potential, the stamina and the power to win, but would it work during race day? Erin sure hoped it would and you could tell by the look on Jacey Leigh Lannings face that her colt would become a champion one day. If they had any chance of the Triple Crown next year, they had to work, and hard at that.
She pushed the colt on, allowed the handlers to load him, and stroked the muscular black colts neck. "Come on Rave, let's make you a champion." The gates opened and Rave dashed out of the starting gates, his pace high, though he was a closer and as he moved up the straight his pace did not drop. Instead, it seemed the colt would put every ounce of her strength into the short workout - they were only doing four furlongs after all - and he was obviously full of energy. Erin crouched down and shook the reins at the three furlong mark, the usual mark where he would move to the outside and close energetically. She kept him to the rail and as they came into the final two furlongs, she pushed him on, the sun beaming down on them both like they were in the spotlight. His mane flew out behind them and his hooves made a quick four-beat as they tore down the track. Erin relaxed as they soared past the post, a smirk on her face. This was going to be a good year for them both.